Steps To Starting Your Fitness Journey

Through watching many Youtube videos and hearing many different opinions and variations from others, I have heard so many methods to beginning and keeping on your fitness journey. I decided to take them and put the ones I think are most important and beneficial to me when trying to be come fit and healthy. Note that I am not a professional and these are just my opinions, but I do think they are valid. 

1. Figure out WHY do you want to start.

So you have decided that you want to get healthier through fitness and eating, but why have you decided this? What is the purpose of this new desired change in lifestyle? What is it about doing this that drives you to want to start? Everyone has their own journey. Some are looking to lose weight, some to gain and some to build muscle. Some may want to do it for the mental aspect. Hopefully what ever your reason is, you are doing it for you. 

2. Decide WHAT is your goal or target.

Perhaps this is in conjunction with number one. It is fine and dandy to say, "I wanna get ripped," or "I wanna lose weight," but making more specific goals will give you something to work towards, and makes it more attainable. As well as a big picture, make small goals for yourself along the way. You will be less likely to get discouraged this way if you know you can meet the goals you are setting. Once you meet them, set the next ones. 

3.  What kind of exercise are you wanting to start to achieve your goals.

There are so many styles of exercise. Everybody has their own niche and get satisfaction from different things. Are you hoping to do something intense like Crossfit or lifting weights? Are you hoping to do something team oriented such as sports? Are you looking for something a little more focused on body weight training like pilates or yoga? You may even want to start by working out at home, rather than at a gym or in a class. I know I am that way. There are so many things out there so explore them! 

4. Evaluate and assess your current eating habits and figure out what needs to change.

You can bust your ass at the gym until your hearts content, but if you are eating poorly most of the time, it is going to be really hard to get fat off, and show the muscles you are trying to build. Start to eliminate or at least start cutting back on things like processed sugars and foods, alcohol and things that have zero benefit to your body. Eat real food, with as few ingredients as possible. When you are ready figure out how many calories you should be eating to survive based on your body and then figure out what you need to add or remove to meet your goal. It is often preached that your diet is 70% of your fitness journey and exercise just 30%.

5. Surround yourself with supportive people as well as people also involved in the field of interest. 

This is your journey and it is up to you to take the initiative and start, but that's not to say it wouldn't help to have a good group of people around you. This could mean joining a class, or getting to know people at your gym. You may want to create a group of friends who have similar goals as you to help keep you on tract.

6. Join as soon as possible! 

A lot of people seem to be waiting for the perfect time to start. They are waiting for Monday, the beginning of the month, or even the new year. The truth is there is no perfect time to start. There is always going to be a reason that maybe you should wait. If you are serious about getting started, do it right now. 

7. Check your excuses and figure out how to make it work.

What is it that is holding you back? Some people feel like they are too busy so don't have enough time, they can't afford it,  or perhaps they lack the ability to do something. Some people have food restrictions or past injuries that they feel might get in the way. If your reason is time, perhaps checking out some fitness channels on Youtube would be beneficial. There are so many 5, 10, 15 minute workouts that take little time. Doing your workouts at home will also cut back on cost. Don't have equipment to do it at home? There are plenty of workouts that focus on body weight training, rather than equipment or machines. And this way you can also start at a beginner level if you feel somethings are a bit too difficult or advanced for you. I do think that if you are going to work out at home, you have someone watch you or just really make sure your form is correct so you can work out safely. 

8. Make sure what you are doing is sustainable.

For the most part, when we are making a plan to get fit, or lose weight and be healthy, its not just something short term, its something we want for life. So what ever you chose to do, make sure it is sustainable, meaning you can continue to do it for the long term. This is where fad diets end up not working because many people can only do it for a certain amount of time, and when they go back to eating normally, not by their diet, they lose a lot of the results they have gotten. If its not something you can keep doing, then I would say skip it, unless you are really training for something specific like a muscle competition. 

9. Be patient 

Seeing your progress is going to take time. You are not going to see a difference after exercise and eating healthy one time. It could take weeks or months to see results but they will come. You will feel it, and then see it, and then start to HEAR it from others when progress does come. If you feel you have plateaued (meaning you are no longer making progress or losing weight) and are stuck somewhere, unable to lose anymore, then perhaps it is time to intensify your workout a bit.

10. Forgive yourself then REMEMBER the why.

There are going to be times that you want to quit. There are going to be lazy days and days that we skip a workout and have a few too many cheat meals. I think it is important to check ourselves, but forgive ourselves as well. It happens and when it does let it, then go back to that reason why you started to get yourself back in gear. It will not be helpful to you to stress about it and then turn it into a week of it because you messed up here and there. 

So there you have it. The best tips I have learned (through experience and research) for beginning your healthy, fitness journey and good luck to anyone planning on starting.  I hope they will be helpful to you.